Cowtail holder



J. KUNKLE Jan. 3, 1939.

COW'IAIL HOLDER Filed Jan. '10, 1936 I lNVENTOR. dAcd KUNKLE ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

My invention relates generally to cowtail holders and particularly to a device which may encircle the hind leg of the animal and to which the tail may be secured to prevent its movement during the milking or other work in the vicinity of the animal. I

The objects of the invention are, first; to provide a cowtail holder simple in construction and easy to operate, providing a positive acting and rugged inexpensive device.

Second; to provide a cowt-ail holder in which the leg clamping means are locked in clamping position prior to the tail clamping operation.

Third; to' provide a cowtail holder capable of being adjusted in size to snugly fit the leg of the animal upon which used.

Further objects and advantages of the invention as well as its operation will be apparent by referring to the following description in connection with the accompanying drawing in which? Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the device in full clamping position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the tail clamping means in disengaged position.

Fig. 3 is a similar view with both the tail and clamping means in fully disengaged position, the device being slightly modified, means being provided for adjusting the device to fit the particular size of leg on which applied.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the device in full clamping position.

Fig. 5 is a front end view of the same, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional view on the line-6-6 of Fig. 5 showing the tail clamping means in clamping position.

Referring now to the drawing by numerals of reference, I and 2 designate leg clamping members, member 2 being pivotally secured to member I at 3, the other end of member I being secured to transverse portion 4 having slot or opening 5 adapted to be engaged by bifurcated end 6 of actuating or looking member 1 having fingers 8 and 9 adapted to engage slot 5 and end I0 in transverse portion 4 and clamping member 2. The clamping member 2 is shown as being formed of a wire or rod providing opening 2", but it may be made of a solid piece of material with a suitable slot at locking end III.

A resilient member or spring II is mounted between the end I2 of transverse portion 4 and actuating or looking member I. The spring II in combination with the transverse member 4 forms a tail clamping means as shown in Figs. 1, 5, and 6.

In operating the device, the leg clamping members I and 2 are placed around the leg L of the animal and member 2 is moved toward member I until end I0 is adjacent the slotted end of transverse member '4. (See Fig. 2.) Actuating or looking member I is swung toward transverse member 4 until fingers'8 and 9 of bifurcated end 6 engage slot 5 and end ID of clamping member 2. The tail I3 may be inserted at this time between transverse member 4 and spring or retaining member II, and the spring actuating and clamp locking lever I may be swung in the direction shown by arrow in Fig. 2, until abutting clamping member 2, at which time spring II will have passed beyond a vertical plane passing through transverse extension 4, to eifectively clamp tail I3 between said spring II and member 4. (See Figs. 5 and 6.) In full clamping position, finger 9 is engaging slot 5 and finger 8 is abutting end ID of clamping member 2, the action of spring II retaining locking member in locking position.

The device may be modified as shown in Fig. 3 to permit adjustment of locking or clamping members Ia and 2a to fit the leg of the animal upon which the device is to be used. Clamping member Ia has extensible portion I, slidably supported thereon by means of threaded extension I4 passing through slot I5, a suitable nut I6 being provided for locking members Ia and I' in adjusted position. Clamping member 2a has extension 2' having looped ends I! slidably positioned on member 2a, the ends I8 of which are also looped about extension 2. to provide means for adjusting clamping member 2a.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a novel tail holder which may be quickly and effectively applied and will provide positive tail clamping means, inexpensive and sturdy in construction.

As herein described and drawn, the invention illustrates the preferred embodiments of same as it now appears to me, but I reserve the right to make such changes in form, proportion and details of construction as do not depart from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

A tail holder comprising a pair of legclamping members, a transverse portion on one of said members, and means for securing the other clamping member to the transverse portion, said means including means for clamping the tail of the animal to the transverse portion.

2. The structure as specified in claim 1, said first named means comprising a clamping lever engageable with the transverse portion and the second clamping member.

3. The structure as specified in claim 1, each of said leg clamping members comprising slidably related portions, and means for locking said sliding portions of the leg clamping members in adjusted position substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

4. A cowtail holder comprising a pair of leg clamping members, one of said clamping members carrying a transverse member at one end thereof, the other end of said last mentioned clamping member being pivotally secured to one end of the second clamping member, and means for removably securing the other end of the second clamping member to one end of the transverse member, said means including a member for securing the animals tail to the transverse member.

5. A cowtail holder comprising a pair of leg clamping members, one of said clamping members carrying a transverse member at one end thereof, the other end of said last mentioned clamping member being pivotally secured to one end of the second clamping member, a clamping lever for removably securing the other end of the second clamping member to one end of the transverse member, and spring means between the transverse member and the clamping lever for maintaining said clamping lever in clamping position and for securing the animals tail to the transverse member.

6. A cowtail holder comprising a pair of leg clamping members, one of said clamping members carrying a transverse member at one end thereof, the other end of said last mentioned clamping member being pivotally secured to one end of the second clamping member, a clamping lever and spring means for removably securing the other end of the second clamping memher to one end of the transverse member, said spring means being connected with said transverse member and movable into and out of tail holding relation therewith.

7. A tail holder comprising a pair of leg clamping members, a transverse portion on one of said members, and means for securing the other clamping member to the transverse portion, said means comprising a clamping lever and spring means engageable with the transverse portion and the second clamping member, said spring means being adapted to retain the clamping lever in clamping position and to clamp the tail of the animal to the transverse portion.

8. A tail holder comprising a pair of leg-clamping members, a transverse portion on one of said members, and means for securing the other I clamping member to the transverse portion, said clamping member to the transverse portion, said means including means for clamping the tail of the animal to the transverse portion, said first named means comprising a clamping lever engageable with the transverse portion and the second clamping member, said tail clamping means including a resilient member between the transverse portion and the clamping lever.

J AC OB KUNKLE 

